Marine vessel



G. DEPPNER MARINE VESSEL March 31, 1931.

Filed Dec. 20 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flbWPf MA March 31, 1931. DEPPNER MARINE VESSEL Filed Dec. 20, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 um wm March 31, 1931.

G. DEPPNER MARINE VESSEL Filed Dec. 20, 1929 4 SheetFi-Sheet 3 INVENTOR G. DEPPN ER MARINE VESSEL March 31, 1931.

Filed Dec. 20, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 R O T N E V m M 50pm Wq'm WL Patented Mar. 31, 1931 PATENT orrlcs GEORGE DEPPNEB, 0F YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO MARINE VESSEL Application filed December 20, 1928. Serial No. 415,455.

This invention relates to marine vessels.

An object of this invention is to rovide a marine vessel of the type in which t e propellers are disposed about the hull and extend from the bow to the stern.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marine vessel that shall admit of attaining high speeds.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marine vessel that may be propelled with a minimum amount of power per pound of weight. i

A still further object of the invention is to utilize the exhaust gases of a prime mover for ventilating the hull of a marine vessel.

Other objects of the invention will be aparent to those skilled in the art from the ollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompan ing drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of the marine vessel arranged and constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section of the vessel shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the serpentine propellers, the hull of the vessel being indicated in broken lines;

Fig. 4. is an end view showing the bearing construction upon-which the stern ends of the propellers are mounted;

Fig. 5 is an end view illustrating the construction of the bow end of the propellers;

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section of the bow end of the propeller construction;

Fig. 7 is a side view in elevation of a detail embodied in the vessel which permlts air to enter the hull Fig. 8 is a front view in elevation of the detail shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a modified form of the detail shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail.

Throughout the drawings and the spec1fication like characters of reference indicate like parts. u

In the drawings a marine vessel, indicated in its entirety by the reference character 1, is shown that comprises a hull 2 having a plurality o'f serpentine propellers 3 disposed about the hull. The propellers 3 extend from the bow to the stern of the hull as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As shown in Fig. 2 the propellers are of substantially parabolic curvature in section as indicated at 4 in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In the present form of construction the pitch of the propellers 3 is substantially equal to the length of the hull. In order to obtain eflicient results the section of the propellers 3 is greater at the bow end of the vessel and gradually tapers or becomes smaller towards the stern end.

It ma be desirable, in cases where the vessel 1 is relatively long to support the propellers 3 medially of their ends in order to 85 eliminate variation thereof or to counteract the tendency to vibrate if such condition should arise. For this purpose an antifriction bearing 5 is mounted in an annular recess of the hull 2. The inner race of the bear- 7 ing may be held stationary by means of bolts 5 or other suitable means. The outer race of the bearing acts as a support for the pro. pellers 3. i

The bow end of the propellers are mounted on or secured to a support 6 which is mounted on a shaft 7, the shaft being journalled in a bearin 8 that extends from the outer surface at the ow through the wall of the hull and into the interior of the hull as shown in Fig. 2. The support 6 is provided with ears or extensions 9 to which the bow ends of the propellers 3 are secured by means of bolts 10 or other suitable means. In order to provide for a more rigid construction at the bow end of the propellers, blocks 11 are secured to the support 6 in such a manner that one end of each abuts against the parabolic surface of the serpentine propellers as indicated at 12 (see Fi 5 of the drawings), thereby wedging the ow ends of the propellers in place.

The blocks 11 may be secured to the support 6 by means of bolts 13 or other suitable means; and the support 6 may be secured to the shaft 7 by means of a nut 14 and a cotter pin 15, although other means of securing the support 6 to the shaft 7 may be employed if it is so desired.

In order to protect the forward end of the shaft 7 and the support 6 to which the propellers 3 are secured from the effects of the water or from objects which may be floating or suspended in the water, a shield 17 of conelike construction is provided and secured to the support 6. The base of the shield 17 may be ,closed as indicated at 18 in Fig. 1 of the drawings and brazed or otherwise secured to the propellers 3.

In order to prevent water from entering the interior of the hull 2 from the bow end thereof, a stufiing box 19 is provided which contains packing 20 of suitable material.

The stern ends of the propellers 3 may be a secured to a support 22 by means of bolts 23.

The support 22 as shown is clamped about an outer ball bearing race 24 by means of a bolt 25, the support 22 being split as indicated at 26. The bearing of which the race 24 forms a part, comprises a plurality of balls or spheres 27 located between the outer race 24 and an inner race 28, a construction well known in the art. The inner race 28 is mounted on a hollow shaft or tube 29 which is stationarily mounted in the stern end of the hull 2 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The vessel 1 is provided with a fish-tail-like rudder 31 that comprises a hollow stationary portion 32 and a movable or rudder portion 33 which is provided with a vertically extending shaft 34 that is journalled in bearings 35 and 36, the bearings being carried by the stationary portion 3 I In order to guide the vessel 1 by means of the rudder, the shaft 34 is provided with a bevel gear 38 that meshes with a bevel gear 39 carried by a shaft 40. The shaft 40 extends through the hollow shaft or tube 29 and is supported at its inner end by a closure member 41 for the inner end of theshaft or tube 29. The inner end of the shaft 40 carries a bevel gear 42 that meshes with a bevel gear 43. Bevel gear 43'is mounted at the upper end of a vertical shaft 44 that carries a bevel gear 45 at its lower end. The bevel gear 45 meshes with a bevel gear 46 that is mounted on a shaft 47, the shaft 47 being disposed for turning movement by a wheel 48.

Because of the shape of the hull 2 it is necessary to provide for stabilizing the vessel particularly when the vessel is standing still. For this purpose the stabilizer 50 is provided (see Figs. 1 and 2) that is carried by an arm or crank 51 which is attached to a shaft 52 extending longitudinally through the hollow shaft or tube 29. The inner end of the shaft 52 is supported by the closure member 41.

Inner end of the shaft 52 carries a bevel gear 54 that meshes with a bevel gear 55 secured to the upper end of a shaft 56. A bevel gear 57 is mounted medially of the ends of the shaft 56 and meshes with a bevel gear 58 which is carried by a shaft 59 having a wheel part of the invention, it need not be described in detail. As is usual in periscope mechanisms means are provided for turning the periscope to the proper direction and for this purpose a shaft 69 is indicated that extends through the hollow shaft 29 and is connected to the periscope by suitable gearing mechanism (not shown).

In order to prevent spray or waves from entering the hull of the vessel throu h the air line 64, the entrance to the air ine is provided with a funnel-like mechanism 73. The funnel-like mechanism 73 is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings. This mechanism includes normally closed flapper valves 74 disposed at the sides of the funnel and a flapper valve 75 disposed at the bottom of the funnel. The valves 74 and 75 are normally biased towards the closed position by means of springs carried in the hinges 76 and 77 of the respective valves, but are so designed that the weight 'of water carried by the spray or waves will cause them to open thereby allowing the water to escape without entering the air line 64.

In order to provide, as a further safeguard, against the possible entry of water into'the air line 64, a, valve 78 is provided at the entrance to the air line. Valve 78 is disposed for operation by the valve 75 through a link 7 9 which connects the valve 78 and the valve 75. When water carried by the spray or the waves enter the funnel mechanism 73 and the valve 75 is caused to open thereby, the link 79 is actuated to the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 7 thereby closing the valve 78. The valve 78 may be normally biased towards its open position by means of a spring 81, in addition to the biasing effect of the springs carried in the hinge 77.

The entrance into the funnel 73 ma screened by a screen 82 in order to exc ude foreign particles which may clog the air line 64 if permitted to pass into the funnel. The upper edge of the funnel mechanism 73 may be provided with a light'84 of any suitable color according to the requirements of the maritime laws governing navigation.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings a modified form of funnel mechanism is shown in transverse section. This mechanism is rovided with a series of bafiles 85 86 and 8 in addition to the flapper valves 74 and 75 employed in the mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Thepurpose of the bafiles in the modification shown in Fig. 9 is to prevent the water from being carried over into the air line 64. Where it is necessary to close the air line 64 in case the waves or the spray are exceedingly severe, the flapper valve 75 may be provided with an extension arm or link 88 which operates a valve 89 for closing the air line 64 when in the position indicated in broken lines.

It is to be noted that the baffle 85 is so arranged that it directs the spray of water carried over by the waves against the flapper valve 7 5 thereby tending to cause it to open in time to prevent the water or spray being carried over into the air line 64.

The vessel 1 may be propelled b means of a prime mover 91 disposed at the bow end of the vessel. For the present purpose a chain drive mechanism 92 may be employed for transmitting power from the prime mover 91 to the shaft 7.

The prime mover 91 is preferably of the Diesel type and the exhaust gases therefrom may be conveyed to the exhaust line 65 by means of a pipe line 93. At the entrance of the pipe line 93 into the exhaust line 65, a funnel-like construction 94 may be provided which is tapped into the junction of the exhaust line 64 and 93 respectively. When exhaust gases are flowing outwardly a venturi effect is produced which operates to withdraw the air from the vessel thereb ensuring a continuous circulation of the resh air from the atmosphere through the air line 64 into the vessel, the air being discharged into the vessel through a funnel mechanism 95.

The funnel mechanism 95 is preferably located at the bow end of the vessel.

In order to prevent the hull of the vessel from turning when the serpentine propellers 3 are in motion, ballast 97 is provided in the space between the bottom of the hull 2 and a 9 floor or platform 98 upon which the prime mover 91 is mounted, as well as chairs 99, and other conveniences, not shown, which are required in the operation of the vessel.

Entrance into the vesselmay be had from the top of the hull through a hatchway 100 and a stairway 101. The hull may also be provided with a series of ports 102 in order that the vessel may be properly lighted.

As stated hereinbefore the section of the serpentine pro ellers 3 is relatively large at the bow end 0 the vessel and tapers gradually towards the stern end of the vessel; in other words, the section of the serpentine propellers taken at different stations becomes uniformly smaller towards the stern end of the vessel. For this reason the propellers 3 exert greatest pulling effort at the bow end of the vessel which is an advantageous feature in propelling the vessel and attaining high speeds.

While the vessel herein shown and described may be designed for commercial and war time urposes, still its novel shape and design len s itself admirably to constructions of toy size. Instead of the prime mover 91 as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, a spring motor may be employed when the vessel is built for toy purposes.

While various modifications and changes may be made in the device arranged and constructed in accordance with the invention, it is to be understood that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a marine vessel, in combination, a hull, bearings at each end of the hull, and a serpentine propeller having its opposite ends mounted on said bearings, the propelling surfaces of said propeller being parabolic in transverse section, said propeller being spaced from the hull and extending longitudinally thereof;

2. In a marine vessel, in combination, a hull, bearings at each end of said hull, and a serpentine propeller mounted on said bearings and disposed for turning about said hull, the propelling surfaces of said propeller being parabolic in transverse section, the pitch of said propeller being substantially equal to the length of the hull.

3. In a marine vessel, in combination, a hull, bearings at each end of said hull, and a plurality of serpentine propellers mounted on said bearings and disposed for turning about the hull, the propelling surfaces of said propellers being parabolic in transverse section, the pitch of said propellers being substantially equal to the length of said hull.

4. In a marine vessel, in combination, a hull, bearings at opposite ends of the hull, a plurality of serpentine propellers disposed about the hull and mounted for turning movement on said bearings, the pitch of each of said propellers being substantially equal to the length of the hull, and a conical closure member disposed about the ends of said propellers at the forward end thereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of December,

GEORGE D-EPPNER. 

